[This article was first published in February 2022 and has been revised and expanded.]

You finally did it. You decided to get rid of those old appliances that have been sitting around, taking up space, and making you feel bad. 

But now you have to figure out how to make it happen. Old appliance removal can be difficult, slow, and potentially dangerous work. But it doesn't have to be hard.

Making Old Appliance Removal Easy 

For those who've never tackled appliance removal before, the first thing to bear in mind is that appliances are heavy. And they can damage floors, walls, and door jambs when being moved. Not to mention hands and feet!

On the bright side, old appliances are also highly recyclable. Which means they don't have to end up in a landfill near you.

Of course, if your old appliance is still working then have other options for removal.

You could try to sell it either in a yard sale or online through one of the multitude of selling platforms now available on the Internet. You may want to stipulate that the buyer is responsible for the pickup and delivery so that you don't have to do the hard work of moving it. 

Another option for those working appliances you no longer want is to donate them.

There are many options available for finding a new home for a gently used appliance. And there are many needs out there that you can help fill with your old, but working, appliance.

If, however, your old unit no longer works - or you just don't want to take time selling or donating it - you can often have a local scrap metal dealer pick it up from you. And, who knows? You may even get some money for it!

If It's Broke, You Can Recycle It

One last option for old appliance removal, of course, is to remove it yourself and get it to a proper recycling facility. 

Because most large household appliances are constructed mostly of steel along with other metals, glass, and plastics, they can be almost completely recycled. Generally, these items are treated as a category of "scrap metal." 

The State of California, for example, defines scrap metal this way:

"Scrap metal originates from end-of-life products (for example, radiators, automobiles, major appliances, and railroad box cars), structures, and manufacturing scrap that can be recycled when discarded."

In fact, the common usage of the term "scrap metal" includes your old lawn mower,  appliances such as washers and dryers, the metal wheels off your old truck, and any number of other metal junk items you might have lying around the house.

In addition to scrap metal, many appliance contain other elements, as well, including electronics.

[Image courtesy of PNM]

There are some appliances that contain enough electronic components to classify as e-waste. So, the last thing you really want to do with any of your old, unusable appliances - large or small - is to send them off to a landfill.

As one source puts it,

Since appliances are not biodegradable, they just sit and take up space. Large appliances like refrigerators, stoves, freezers, washers, and dryers can all be easily recycled. It is important to pay attention to your individual state's guidelines when it comes to recycling these items.

No One Wants to Take on Old Appliance Removal Alone

We live in a DIY culture and a DIY generation. At least, we like to think we are. For a few things. But some activities really should be left to the pros. 

Like most plumbing, electrical, and automotive work. 

Face it - it's just easier and less stressful to let a trained professional handle many of the jobs and tasks that need to be done in life. And the moving, loading, hauling, and disposing of old household appliances is definitely one of those jobs.

Appliances can be heavy. Consider, for example, that an average-sized top-and-bottom refrigerator with French doors can weigh between 100 and 400 pounds, with an average weight of 250 pounds.

And a large capacity washing machine can weigh almost 230 pounds. Even a relatively small appliance like a window A/C unit can be a burden at over 60 pounds weight on average.

Keep in mind, too, that we're not talking simply of "moving" these giant blocks of steel, glass, and rubber - to properly dispose of an old appliance and get it out of your home, you need to load it into a suitably large vehicle, transport to a suitable disposal facility, and then unload it there.

But if you're still of a mind to remove and load your own old appliances, here's a few tips to guide you safely through the process:

• Lift with your knees, not your back. This means squatting down to pick something up, not bending over
• Never carry large or heavy items by yourself or alone, especially if they’re bulky
• Use a dolly or other lifting or special equipment to help relieve the weight from you
• Take frequent breaks if you're moving more than one large item and stay hydrated
• If you have to strain to lift something, get help. Don’t hurt yourself trying to lift things that are too heavy for you

So, at minimum, if you want to take care of your own old appliance removal you will need some reliably strong assistance, a truck or large cargo van, a proper location for disposal, and the ability to transport it and unload it safely.

And, of course, the ability to pay for fees, fuel, and any tools or equipment needed to make this happen. Which, when you think about it, may not be something you really want to do after all.

Which is why, at Junk King, we specialize in making old appliance removal easy for you.

Junk King: We Can Make Old Appliance Removal Easy for You

You can always look for some guy with a truck to do it. And we get that. But we also understand that you may end up paying you more than you hoped to save. Not to mention that you can never know where your old appliance will really be dumped.

On the other hand, Junk King can provide you with an efficient, safe, affordable, and eco-friendly junk removal and hauling service so you don’t need to dispose of your old appliance or extra-large trash items yourself.

And regardless of whether you need our services several times during a spring cleaning or remodel project, or just this one time, our hauling professionals will ensure that all your large junk and debris is out of your way so that you can get on with your life.

We'll show up at your house or property right on time, as promised, so call us today! Our team is fully insured and well-trained, so you can trust them to get rid of your unwanted items in a professional and courteous fashion.

And one of the best things about hiring Junk King is that we recycle much of the material we pick-up. This is proof of our commitment to being an eco-friendly removal service.  If you have questions about what we do or what we believe, give us a call at 1-888-888-JUNK (5865).